And frank bowers and curtis



Aug. 2, 1932.

N. L. SNOW ET AL BOILER CLEANER 5 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov, 19, 192

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Patented Aug. 2 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- NORMAN L. SNOW, OF NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT, AND FRANK BOWERS AND CURTIS L. HO'WSE, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS T0 DIAMOND POWER SPECIALTY CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN BOILER CLEANER Application filed November 19, 1923, Serial No. 675,689. Renewed November 17, 1930.

The invention relates to boiler cleaners and refers more particularlyto that type having a rotatable blower element which discharges the cleaning fluid upon or in any other desired relation to the boiler tubes, and a valve which controls the admission of the cleaning fluid to the blower element, the valve being rotatable with the blower element and also movable relative thereto to open and close the port. V

In boiler cleaners of this type as heretofore constructed, the friction opposed to the movement of the valve relative to the blower element for opening and closing the port has been so great that a relatively great leverage has been required to secure the relative movement. As a consequence a relatively great angular movement of the blower element has been required. One reason for this great friction has been that the pressure of the cleaning fluid outside the blower element has forced and held the valve firmly to its seat.

Our invention has for one of its objects the provision of means for relieving the friction and for securing the desired relative movement with a relatively small angular movement of the blower-element. Other objects are the provision of a cam member cooperating with the valve to secure its movement relative to the blower element; and the provision of means for securing apredetermined relative movement of the valve and blower element to insure proper opening and closing ofthe port.

Further objects of the invention reside in the novel features of construction and combinationsand arrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a boiler cleaner embodying our invention;

Figure 2 is an end view thereof with the cap for the head removed;

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figures t and 5 are views respectively. similar to Figures 1 and 2 and showing a modified construction Figure 6 is a view similarto Figure 4: and showing another modified construction;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the valve shown in Figure 6;

Figures 8 and 9 are views respectlvely $11111- lar to Figures 1 and 2 andshowing still another modified construction, and

Figure 10 is a development of the cam or spiral thread shown in Figures 8 and 9.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, 1 is the blower element extending through the boiler wall 2 and provided with a series of nozzles for discharging the cleaning fluid, such as steam or the like, upon or in any other desired relation to the boiler tub-es. The blower element is rotated in the present instance by means of a chain which extends over the sheave 3, which latter is operatively connected to the blower element by the pinion a and gear 5, the pinion being fixed upon the shaft 6 to which the sheave is secured and the gear being fixed upon the blower element. 7 is the valve casing upon the outer end of the blower element and rotatable therewith, and 8 is the slide valve adapted to close the port 9 in the outer end of the valve casing. This slide valve is pivoted upon the pin 10 to swing laterally and substantially parallel to the outer endof the valve casing to close and open the port, and the opposite edges of this valve are engageable with the pins 11 and 12 which limit the lateral swinging of the slide valve about its pivot. The pins 10, 11 and 12 extend transversely from the outer end of the valve casing. To supply the steam or the like to the blower element there is the head 13 which is adapted to receive the steam or the like and which surrounds the valve casing.

For the purpose of automatically opening and closing the port 9 in the valve casing, the head 13 is provided with the peripherally extending recess 14, the opposite shoulders of which are engageable by the lug 15 upon the pivoted end of the slide valve. This lug is of such a length that when the port of the valve casing is closed by the valve the lug extends within the recess, and when the port of the valve casing is open the lug wipes the inner periphery of the head. The opening of the port 9 is accomplished by rotating the blower element and with it the valve casing and slide valve in a counterof the slide valve 8 to a port 9.

counterclockwise direction, the port remains open and the steam or the like is being discharged from the blower element.

To limit the counter-clockwise rotation of the blower element, I have provided the inwardly extending lug 17 upon the inner periphery of the head for engagement by the lug 15. After the lug 15 has come into cont-act -26 with the lug 17, rotation of the blower ele ment is reversed, the port in the valve casing, meanwhile, remaining open. During the final portion of this rotation in the reverse or clockwise direction, the lug 15 comes into engagement with the lug l7 and rides down its face as well as the shoulder 18 of the recess 14, thereby compelling lateral swinging position to close the For the purpose of reducing the friction between the valve and valve casing during the lateral swinging of the slide valve to either its open or closed position, I have provided'upon the cap 19 which is secured to and closes the outer end of 'thehea-d 13, the an- ,nular cam rib 20, andI have formed the slide valve 8in two parts comprising thevalve proper 21 having the integral stem 22 and the pivoted end 23 through which the pivot 10 extends and upon the outer end of which I the lug 15 is formed. These two parts are hinged to each other at 24 by a pin extending transversely therethrough. The stem 22 is located outwardly beyond the pivoted end 23 and contacts with the rib 20, the bearing face of which is constructed to lift the valve proper away from the valve casing during the lateral swinging of the slide valve. The portion of this rib adjacent the peripheral recess 14 is cut away toreceive the stem 22 and to permit the valve proper to effectively seat upon the outer end of the valve casing and close the port. By reason of lifting the valve proper from the valve casing the friction opposed to the lateral swinging of theslide valve is decidedly reduced, thereby permitting the positioning of the pivot pin 10 for the slide valve near the inner periphery of the head so that a relatively small angular movement of the blower element will sufiice to laterally swing theslide valve to open and closed positions. In the modified construction shown in Figures 4 and 5, theboiler cleaner has the same general arrangement of parts with the exception that the friction between the valve proper 25 and the outer end of the valve casing 26 is relieved by means of the cam 27 located upon the outer end of the valve casing and engageable with the lug 28 upon the free end of the valve proper during the rotation of the valve relative to the blower element. This cam is also shaped to permit the valve proper to seat upon the valve casing when in position to close the latters port. .Also, as shown, the lug 29 upon the inner periphery of the valve casing is located to engage the lug 30 upon the stem of the valve proper to limit the angular movement of the blower element through an angle of approximately 180.

In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7, a one-piece valve 31 is used instead of a two-piece valve. This valve is formed intermediate its ends with the arcuate recess 32 in its inner face and concentric with the pivot pin 33 extending through the pivoted end of the valve. The recess is of sufiicient length to travel over the anti-friction bearing 34, while the valve is being swung laterally. This bearing, in the present instance,

is a ball; partially engaging in the arcuate recess and also in the hemi-spherical recess in theouter end of the valve casing. The cap 35 upon the head is provided with the inwardly, extending projection 36 engageable with the outer face of the valve opposite the ball to retain the valve in engagement with the ball. 'The pivoted end of this valve is engageable with thevcammed annular bead 37supon the cap, this bead being so shaped that it will hold the valve out of contact with the outer end of the valve casingat all times except during the period when the, valve closes the port in the valve casing.

The boiler cleaner shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 is designed to permit of a rotation of the blower element with the valve open through 360 or more, if desired. In detail, 38 is the blower element, 39 the valve casing upon the outerend of the blower element having the port 40 in its outer end, and 41 the, head surrounding the valve casing and adapted to receive steam or the like. 42 is the slide valve at the outer end of the valve casing and adapted to control the passage of steam or the like through the port 40. This valve is mounted intermediate its ends upon the anti-friction bearing 43, such as a ball, seated in a recess in the outer end of the valve casing and arranged partially in the arcuate groove 44 in the inner face of the valve. 1 The outer face of the valve opposite the groove is provided with the rounded enlargement 45 which is engageable with the inwardly extending lug 46 upon the cap 47 for the head by means of which the valve is maintained in place.

The valve has the opening 48 near its outer end which is engageable by the pivot pin 49 secured to the valve casing. This opening has enlarged or flaring ends to permit the valve to rock upon the pin while being lifted from the valve casing as hereinafter described. The valve is also provided at its outer end with the lug 50 which is engageable in the recess 51 in the inner periphery of the head when the'valve is in position to close the port 10.

For the purpose of permitting rotation of the blower element with the valve open through 360 or more, if desired, the inner periphery of the head l1 is provided with the spiral groove 52 forming cam surfaces engageable with both sides of the lug 50 upon rotation of the blower element in a counter clockwise direction to compel this lug to move inwardly of the head, thereby swinging the valve out of frictional contact with the outer end of the valve casing. This groove upon rotation of the blower element in the opposite direction also compels the lug to move outwardly of the head, thereby swinging the valve toward the casing. Also the groove permits the valve to tightly seat upon the outer end of the valve casing when the valve is in position to close the port 40. The stop 53 engageable with the lug 50 may be positioned at any predetermined point along the inner side of the spiral groove to limit the rotation of the. blower element at any desired point. As shown in Figure 10, the groove has slightly more than one convolution and the stop is located at one end of this groove.

By reason of the rounded enlargement 45, the lug 46 upon the cap will hold the valve against the anti-friction ball at all times during the lifting of the valve or its swinging away from the valve casing.

For convenience the invention has been described as being embodied in boiler cleaners for cleaning parts of boilers and the like. It will be apparent, however, that the invention may be incorporated in devices for cleaning any similar types of apparatus, and it is to be therefore understood that the term boiler wherever used in the specification or claims is to be construed as meaning a heat transfer apparatus or fluid heater of any character, while the term boiler cleaner is to be construed as meaning a cleaner for any such apparatus.

Wh( t we claim as our invention is:

1. The combination with a rotary blower element and means for rotating the same, of

a valve movable into open and closed positions moving the valve to relieve the friction 0p posing an opening movement of said valve relative to said blower element.

2. The combination with a rotary blower element and means for rotating the same, of a valve movable into open and closed positions for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said blower element, said valve being movable with said blower element and also movable relative thereto, means for moving the valve relative to the blower element to control the admission of the cleaning fluid as aforesaid and a cam memberengageable with said valve upon the rotation of said blower element for moving said valve to relieve the friction opposing an opening movement of said valve relative to said blower element.

3. The combination with a rotary blower element and means for rotating the same, of a valve seat rotatable with and communicating with said blower element, a valve movable into open and closed positions for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid through said valve seat, said valve being movable with said valve seat and also movable relative thereto, means for moving the valve relative to the blower element to control the admission of the cleaning fluid as aforesaid and means for moving said valve away from said valve seat to relieve the friction between said valve and valve seat opposing an opening movement of said valve relative to said valve seat. 7

4. The combination with a rotary blower element and means for rotating the same, of a valve seat rotatable with and communicating with said blower element, a head surrounding said valve seat, a valve for controllin the admission of cleaning fluid from said head through said valve seat, said valve being movable with said valve seat and also movable relative to said valve casing, and means upon said head cooperating with said valve to move the same out of frictional contact with said valve seat during the opening movement of said valve relative to said valve seat.

5. The combination with a rotary blower element and means for rotating the same, of a valve casing upon said blower element, a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said blower element, said valve being fulcrumed upon said valve casing intermediate its ends and also being pivoted near one end upon said valve casing, means for moving said valve about its fulcrum to lift said valve from said valve casing, and means for laterally swinging said valve relative to said valve casing.

6. The combination with a rotatable blower element, of a valve controlling the admis- T pendent upon the rotation of said blower element for securing the relative movement of said valve and blower element, said means being arranged to permit of an angular movement of said blower element through an angle equal at least to 360, and means for moving said valve to relieve the friction op- ]posing said transverse movement.

7. The combination with a rotatable blower element, of a valve controlling the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, said valve being rotatable in unison with said blower element,-transversely movable relative thereto and movable toward and away from said blower element, and means for moving said valve transversely upon rotation of said blower element, said means permitting the rotation of said blower element through an to, means engageable with said valve to move a 'the same toward or away from said valve casing, andmeans engageable with said valve to transversely swing the same relative to 7 said valve casing, said means permitting an angular movement of said blower element equal at least to 360.

9. The combination with a rotatable blowe'r element, of a valve controlling the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, said valve being rotatable with said blower element and also movable toward and away from said element and transversely movable relative thereto, and means for moving said valve in both directions relative to said blower element upon rotation of the latter, said means including a member having a spiral cam.

10. The combination with a rotatable blower element and a valve controlling the admission'of cleaning fluid thereto, of means for automatically moving said valve to relieve the frictional resistance exerted by the cleaning fluid to the rotation of said blower element relative to said valve and for securing a predetermined relative angular movement between the blower element and'valve.

11. The I combination with a rotatable blower element and means for rotating the same throughout an arc of at least 360, of a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said blower element, and a relatively stationary cam member for moving said valve to open and closed positions across the path of the cleaning fluid upon the rotation of said blower element, said cam being operable to open said valve and to hold the same open during the rotation of the blower element through 360 degrees.

'12. In a boiler cleaning apparatus the combination with a rotary blower unit and a steam supply conduit therefor, of a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and blower unit, said assembly comprising a hollow head and a plate-like valve member encased within said head and slidably movable across the flow of steam for controlling the supply of steam from said conduit to said blower unit, and a cam automatically operable upon the rotation of the blower unit for moving said plate-like valve to relieve the frictional engagement of the valve with its seat.

13. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the

combination with a rotary blower unit and a steam supply conduit therefor, of a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and blower unit, said assembly comprising a hollow head and a valve member encased within said head for controlling the supply of steam from said conduit to said blower unit, said valve being movable in two directions, one of said directions being against the direction of the flow of steam to relieve the frictional engagement of the valve with its seat and the other of said directions being across the path of steam to control the supply of steam to the blower unit, and means including a cam for moving said valve'in the two said directions in a predetermined time relation with rotation of the blower element;

14. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a rotary blower unit and a steam'supply conduit therefor, of a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and blower unit, said assembly comprising a hollow head and a valve member encased within said head for controlling the supply of steam from said conduit to said blower unit, said valve being movable in two directions, one of said directions being against the direction of the flow of steam to relieve the frictional engagement of the valve with its seatv and the other of said directions beingacross the path of steam to control the supply of steam to the blower unit, and means responsive to rotation of the blower element for moving said valve in the two said directions, saidmeans including a c-am member. a

15. In'a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a rotary blower unit and a steam supply conduit therefor, of a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and blower unit, said assembly comprising a hollow head and a valve member encased within said head for controlling the supply of steam from said conduit to said blower unit, said valve being movable in two directions, one of said I directions being against the direction of the flow of steam to relieve the frictional engagement of the valve with its seat and the other of said directions being across the path of the steam to control the supply of steam to the blower unit, and means controlled by the rotation of the blower unit for moving said valve in the two said directions, said means including a cam member.

16. The combination with a rotatable blower element, means for limiting rotation of the blower element and means for rotat ing the blower element within the limits set by said last mentioned means, of a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said blower element, and means for moving said valve to open and closed positions in timed relation to the rotation of said blower element, said means being operable to open said valve and to hold the same open during the rotation of the blower element through 360.

17. The combination with a rotatable blower element and means for rotating the same, of a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to the blower element, and means including arelatively stationary valve actuating member providing a track cooperatively associated with the valve for effecting a movement of said valve to open and closed positions upon the rotation of said blower element, said member being operable to open said valve and to hold the same open during rotation of the blower element through 360.

18. The combination with a rotary blower element and means for rotating the same, of a valve casing upon said blower element, a valve for controlling the admission of steam or the like to said valve casing, said valve comprising a member pivoted upon said valve casing and a valve proper hinged to said pivoted member, means for lifting said valve proper from said valve casing, and means for securing a relative angular movement of said valve relative to said valve casing.

19. The combination with a rotatable blower element and means for rotating the same, of means including a valve and valve seat for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said blower element, said valve comprising a pivotally mounted member and a valve proper hinged to said member, means for lifting said valve proper to move the same away from said seat, and means for effecting a relative angular movement of said valve relative to said valve seat.

20. The combination with a rotatable blower element and means for rotating the same, of a valve casing upon said blower element, a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said valve casing, said valve in cluding a member pivoted upon said valve casing and a valve proper hinged to said piv-- oted member, means for eflecting an angular movement of said valve relative to said valve caslng, and means engaging the free end of said valve proper for moving the same away from the valve casing.

21. The combination with a rotatable blower element and means for rotating the same, of a valve casing carried-by said blower element and having an inlet port, a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said valve casing, said valve comprising a memberv pivoted upon said valve casing and a valve proper hinged to said pivoted member, and a cam mounted on said valve casing and engageable wit-h the free end of said valve proper for moving the same away from said valve casing upon rotation of the blower element.

22. The combination with i a rotatable blower element and means for rotating the same, of a valve casing carried by said blower element and having an inlet port, a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said valve casing, said valve comprising a member pivoted upon said valve casing, a valve proper hinged to said pivoted member, and a stem integral with said valve proper and overlying said pivoted member, means for effecting an angular movement of said valve relative to said valve casing, and means engageable with the stem of said valve proper for moving said valve proper away from said valve casing upon rotation of said blower element.

23. The combination with a rotatable blower element and means for rotating the same, of a valve casing carried by said blower element and having an inlet port, a valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said valve casing, said valve comprising a member pivoted upon said valve casing, a valve proper hinged to said pivoted member, and a stem integral with said valve proper and overlying said pivoted member, means for effecting an angular movement of said valve relative to said valve casing, and means providing a cam track engageable with the stem of said valve proper for rocking said valve proper about its hinged connection to the pivoted member for relieving the frictional engagement between said valve proper and the said valve casing.

In testimony whereof we afiiX our signatures.

NORMAN L. SNOW. FRANK BOWERS. CURTIS L. HOWSE. 

